Automobile direction indicator



W. J. BISHOP AUrouoBILE DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1923 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

, UNITED STATES/PATENT OFFICE.;

WILLIAM JAMES BISHOP, OF CGLLINGVOQI), ONTARIO, CANADA.

Auroiviosrm: nrnnorIoN INDICATOR.

Application led December 6, 1923.

To all whom t may concern! Re it known that I, VILLIAM Jnrrns Bisrror, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of the town ot Collingwood, in the county ot Simcoe, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented are slidably operable into the operative and inoperative positions, said signals being electrically illuminated when in their operative position, the means for pulling the signals inwardly constituting the means for the transmission of the electric current to the electric illuminating means.

A further object is to devise means whereby cachot the signals can be operated independently of the other and in which the electric circuit will be broken when the signal is pulled inwardly.

My invention consists of a direction indicator constructed and arranged all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: i

Fig. 1 represents a portion of the wind shield and instrument board of a lcar viewed from the rear side, showing my device applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the central portion of my' device showing the means :tor pulling in the respective signals into their inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a rearelevational view of one of my signals showing the means of slidably mounting it.

Fig. 4t is an elevationaldetail of lthe right hand double pulley wherebyl the right hand signal is moved inwardly into the inoperative position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section showing the means for giving a rotating movement to the signal carrying hollow spindle.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section through a portion of one oiv the lower pulleys, such section being taken through the line 6-6"Figure 2. y I

Fig. 7 is a similar section taken through the line 7-7 Figure 2.

serial No. 678,969.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

l is the dash ot the vehicle. 2 is the wind shield. 3 is the rectangular casing adapted to be secured in position in frontof the dash 1 and provided with laterally extend-- ing hollow arms 4, preferably of tubular form, adapted to receive the hollow signal supporting spindles 5, said signal supporting spindles having the spiral slots G therethrough for a portion of their length into which the inwardly turned lugs 7 on the outer ends of the arms 4 project. 8 are the signal casings suitablysecured tothe outer endsot the spindles 5, as for instance by the soclret 9 with the bayonet slot 10 receiving the pin 11, said signal casings being provided with translucent backs and fronts 12 and 13 respectively.

11i are bushings of insulating material inserted into the inner ends of the spindles 5 and adapted to carry the` screw plugs 15, each provided with the eye 16. 17 is awire leading 'from each screw plug 15 to one terminal of each electric lamp 18, the other terminal of each lamp being grounded.

19 are cables extending inwardly through the arms 4," their outer ends being secured to the eyes 16 on the screw plugs 1 5. 2O are flanged pulleys journalled in the casing 31 and provided with the superimposed flanged pulleys 21 which are preferably formed integrally therewith and of less diameter than such pulleys 20. These pulleys are constructed ot insulating material. The inner ends ofV the cables 19 are wound about the pulleys and secured thereto as indicated in Figure 4L, of the drawing, each pulley 2() being provided with `the horizontally disposed contact stud 22 extending to its riphery so as to make contact with the cable 19, each stud 22 being connected to the vertically extending studs 23 which are disposed in the circular grooves 24 cut in the upper faces ot the pulleys 2G. 25 is a contact plate to which one lead 26 from the battery or othersource otelectricity isconnected, the other terminal of the battery (not shown) being grounded. 27 is a block of insulating material secured inthe casing and carrying the contact plate which is provided with outwardly extending opposed `ho'olnshaped lugs- 28, the tips of which are adapted to be 'inserted into the aforesaid grooves 24;

hso

29 are operating cables Wound around the drum 21 in the manner shown in'Figure 4, their `free ends extending freely through the rear tace ot the casing. 30 are rings on the tree .ends of the cables adapted tobe hooked over suitably disposed pins 31 on the dash.

32 is a spiral spring inserted into each arm 4- and positioned between a plug 33 provided at the inner end ot' each arm L1 and the insulating bushing 14, said springs normally holding the slidable signal carrying spindles 5 in their outermost position as is illustrated in Figure 3 ot the drawing Wherein the fronts and backs ot the signal casing are disposed vertically.

In operatingmy device the signals are pulled into their innermost position wherein through the medium of the spiral slots 6 in the spindles 5 the spindles and signal casings are rotated so that the front and back of the signal casings lie horizontally. This is achieved by the driver ot the car pulling on the cables 29through the medium ot the rings and if desired to hold the signals in the inoperative position such rings are hooked over the pins 81. New, should it be desired to indicate that the vehicle is about to turn to the lett the lett hand ring is removed from the pin and through the medium of the spring 32 the left hand spindle 5 will be pushed outwardly, rotating the attached signal casing into ythe operative position, reeling in the lett hand operating table 29 at the same time as the cable 19 is pulled out. The pulling out ot the cable 19 rotates the letthand pair of pulleys 2O and 21 the required extent until the contact stud 23 en gages the lug V28. When this .occurs contact is madev4 between the battery lead 26 and the lamp through the medium ot the stud 23,

horizontal stud 22 which contacts with the cable 19 which in turn through the lplug 15 makes Contact with the Wiringv 17 connected to one ot the lamp terminals.

lVhen the operating Cable 29 is pulledthe pulleys 2O and 21 are rotated with the result that the cable 19 is reeled in on the leased, permitting the right hand spindle 5 to move outwardly 'under influence otY the spring andthus expose the right hand sig-y Y nal V4Which is constructed inexactly the same manner as the left hand and with the same electrical connection.

Although I have shown pins 31 on Vthe dash, for holding the cables`29 in position so that the signals are in their inoperative operative position it Will be understood that such cables l29 kcould 4be connected yto any i'oot or hand actuating mechanism which is not shotvn as'it forms no part-ot the present invention.

From the above description it will be seen that I have devised a simple and effective direction indicator for automobiles which when the signals are thrown into their opera-- tive position Will automatically light the lamps in the signal casings and when such signals are slid into their inoperative position the lamp circuit will be broken.

That I claim as my invention is:

1. In an automobile direct-ion indicator, a signal laterally slidable into and out of the operative position, said signal normally spring-held inits operative position, an electric lamp in the signal, one ot its terminals being grounded, a rotatable drum ot' electrical insulating material, a cable of electrieal conducting .material secured atone end to the drum and Wound thereon, the other end of the cable being connected to the sec-- ond terminal ot theelectric lamp, means t'or lrotating the drum, and means coacting therewith adapted to contact With the cable thereon when the signal is in the operativo position.

2. In an automobile direction indicator, a signal laterally slidable into and out ol the position, said signal normally spring-held in its operative position, an electric lamp in the signal, one ott its terminals being grounded, a rotatable drum ol electrical insulating material, a cable of electrical conducting material secured at one end to the drum and Wound thereon, the other end of the cable being connected tothe second' terminal ot the electric lamp, means for rotating the drum, an electrical contact kon the drum in engage- `.ment with the cable, and a second electric lminal ofthe electriclamp, means tor rotat- :ing the drum,ran electrical contact 'stud on the upper face ofthe drum in Acontact with the-cable, -and a A`contact linger adapted to engage said stud upon the drum being rotated into the Vrequired position. XVILLIAM JALIES BISHOP. 

